Toyota Highlander

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Model Overview

As with every crossover aimed at families, the three-row Toyota Highlander comes with numerous storage areas including a large in-dash shelf, giving you plenty of places to stow mobile devices and kids’ belongings. There’s also a full suite of active safety features to ensure that you’ve got an extra layer of defense to keep you and your clan out of harm’s way. The Highlander competes against the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, and other large crossovers for those who don’t want a minivan.

History

Introduced for the 2001 model year, the first-generation Toyota Highlander offered a choice of four- and six-cylinder powertrains, and seating for up to seven passengers. Unlike the 4Runner SUV, the Highlander wasn’t an off-road powerhouse and more of a soft roader. Toyota introduced a hybrid variant of the Highlander, which used a 3.3-liter V-6 coupled to an electric motor and, despite the additional powertrain components, had three rows of seating. A first-generation Highlander also served as the basis of Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell vehicle prototypes during the program’s early stages.

The second-generation Highlander arrived for the 2008 model year and was in production until 2013. Unlike the crossover it replaced, the Highlander was now a three-row crossover as the two-row variant was discontinued until 2009, when it was added back to the lineup. A 2.7-liter I-4 was now the standard engine and a 3.5-liter V-6 replaced the outgoing car’s 3.3-liter unit. The Highlander Hybrid returned with the same 3.3-liter V-6 and electric motor combination but, for the 2011 model year, the 3.3-liter V-6 was replaced by a 3.5-liter unit, increasing its overall output from 270 to 280 hp.

The Latest Generation

Toyota introduced the current-generation Highlander for the 2014 model year with the same powertrain options as its predecessor. A hybrid variant of the Highlander returned but it’s now offered exclusively with all-wheel drive. The car was also larger and now featured seating for up to eight passengers and more upscale features like a JBL premium audio system and a full suite of active safety systems including automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning.

At the 2016 New York auto show, Toyota revealed a refreshed 2017 Highlander with a revised front fascia and a new SE trim level that comes with a sportier suspension setup. The optional 3.5-liter V-6 has been updated with direct injection and produces 295 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic replaces the previous six-speed unit. Hybrid variants will also utilize the updated V-6, which should also give it a power increase over the pre-face-lift model.

In a 2017 First Test, we said that the suspension tuning in the new SE trim makes it feel sure-footed and connected on well-maintained roads. However, when the road bends, the Highlander has a tendency to lean too much and on poor surfaces, its tires tend to follow every contour. There’s no handling payoff, either because the SE trim still falls short of crossovers such as the Honda Pilot. Despite gains in power and a new transmission, the refreshed Highlander isn’t especially responsive when asked for more power, and isn’t quicker than its pre-refresh predecessor.

Why You’d Consider One

Among three-row crossovers, the Toyota Highlander is one of the most family-friendly thanks to its spacious second row, many storage spaces, and full suite of active safety features.

Why You’d Look Elsewhere

Those who want a family-friendly crossover that’s also fun-to-drive may be better served by the Mazda CX-9 or the Dodge Durango. And if an everyday-usable third-row is needed, the Sienna minivan may be a better fit.